Widows to play Holi at Vrindavan

Vrindavan: Breaking the shackles of tradition, hundreds of widows would play Holi, the festival of colours, in the land of Lord Krishna this year.

Around 800 widows would play Holi in ashrams of Vrindavan during the four-day celebrations commencing on March 24.

"In an effort to bring widows to mainstream and help their social assimilation, we have organised several events to encourage them participate in Holi celebrations at Vrindavan," founder of Sulabh International Bindeshwar Pathak said.

As widows do not play Holi traditionally in Vrindavan, the upcoming event may need some amount of attitudinal change in the mindset of the society, he said.

Pathak said in a symbolic gesture, the widows would play Holi with flowers on March 24.

The organisation has been providing facilities to all the widows in five government run shelter homes here, he said, adding apart from giving them stipend, Sulabh was now arranging their food and healthcare facilities.

The widows of the holy town feel such celebrations would prove to be an unprecedented step towards ending social prejudice against them, he said.

As part of Holi celebrations, traditional "Raas-Leela" dance and other programmes are also being organised at the Ashrams in Vrindavan on March 24.